Prices of wheat in spot markets remained steady today due to better demand amid higher arrivals, traders said.
In the key market of Kota, Rajasthan, the food grain was quoted largely steady at 1,980-2,000 rupees per 100 kg, they said.
Demand improved as traders re-entered the market after days of thin trade on account of assembly elections, Kota-based grains trader Aniket Mehta said.
Arrivals in Kota were pegged at 2,500 bags (1 bag = 100 kg), up 1,000 bags from Tuesday, he said.
In another key market of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, wheat was sold at 1,950-2,000 rupees per 100 kg, unchanged from Tuesday, traders said. Arrivals were also estimated to be steady at 1,200 bags, they said.
Prices in Delhi also remained steady at 2,050-2,070 rupees per 100 kg, traders said.
Trade volumes in wheat futures on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange remained subdued today.
Trade in maize was mixed across key physical markets. In Davangere, Karnataka,  improved demand and weak arrivals lifted prices, traders said.
The coarse cereal was sold at 1,600 rupees per 100 kg in Davangere, up 30-40 rupees from Tuesday, traders said.
Arrivals were pegged at 3,000 bags (1 bag = 100 kg), down from 5,000 bags the previous day, they said. Moisture content in most of the new crop arrivals is 14%, which is much desired by industry users.
Demand from bulk buyers such as the poultry and feed industry for the good-quality crop has improved, traders said.
In Indore, however, prices slid today due to higher arrivals, traders said. Maize was quoted at 1,600 rupees per 100 kg, down 25 rupees from Tuesday.
In Indore, arrivals rose to 400 bags from 100 bags Tuesday, traders said. Arrivals were low on Tuesday due to thin trade on account of counting of votes for assembly election in the state.
Trade volumes in maize futures on the NCDEX was subdued today.
In Amritsar, Punjab, basmati 1121 paddy was quoted at 3,600 rupees per 100 kg, unchanged from Tuesday, a local trader said.
In Davangere, the price of sona masuri, a non-basmati paddy variety, was at 2,200 per 100 kg, down 100 rupees from Tuesday, traders said. Prices fell due to higher arrivals, traders said.
Arrivals of sona masuri were pegged at 8,000 bags (1 bag = 100 kg) today, 3,000 bags higher than Tuesday, they said.
Non-basmati varieties of paddy are largely being procured by the government at the mandated minimum support price.